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By Dr. Artour Rakhimov, Buteyko breathing teacher and educator

Parameters and description of normal breathing (click here)

The international norm for breathing, which can be found in many medical and physiological textbooks worldwide, is 6 liters of air for one minute during rest for a 70-kg man. This is a very small amount of air. Normal breathing is invisible and inaudible. It ensures sufficient body oxygenation superior to body oxygenation of sick people with chronic diseases. How and why? Consider breathing of sick people:

Western scientific evidence

Condition	Minute ventilation (± standard deviation)	Number of patients	References (click here)
Normal breathing	6 l/min	-	Medical textbooks
Heart disease	15 (±4) l/min	22	Dimopoulou et al, 2001
Heart disease	16 (±2) l/min	11	Johnson et al, 2000
Heart disease	12.2 (±3.3) l/min	132	Fanfulla et al, 1998
Heart disease	14 (±4) l/min	88	Clark et al, 1995
Diabetes	12-17 l/min	26	Bottini et al, 2003
Diabetes	10-20 l/min	28	Tantucci et al, 1997
Asthma	15 l/min	8	Johnson et al, 1995
Asthma	14.1 (±5.7) l/min	39	Bowler et al, 1998
Asthma	12 l/min	101	McFadden & Lyons, 1968
COPD	12.2 (±1.9) l/min	10	Sinderby et al, 2001
Liver cirrhosis	11-18 l/min	24	Epstein et al, 1998
Hyperthyroidism	14.9 (±0.6) l/min	42	Kahaly, 1998
Cystic fibrosis	13 (±1.8) l/min	10	Bell et al, 1996
Cystic fibrosis	11-14 l/min	6	Tepper et al, 1983
Epilepsy	12.8 l/min	12	Esquivel et al, 1991

Table 1. Minute ventilation of patients with different health problems.

"Hence, normal breathing corresponds to a healthy organism." Dr. K. P. Buteyko

All available medical research shows that people with various chronic health problems breathe about 2-3 times more air than the medical norm. They do it 24/7. Severely sick people breathe even heavier. Moreover, over 95% people believe that deep and big breathing pattern provides better oxygenation. However, scientific evidence (hundreds of studies) tells the opposite. There is no a single study, or physiologist, or doctor who proved or claimed that deep or big breathing pattern increases tissue oxygenation or is good for health.

"Therefore, I emphasize the fact or law established long ago: the less the depth of breathing, the more oxygen is delivered in the organism, and vice versa, the deeper the breath, the less oxygen is delivered in the organism." Dr K. P. Buteyko

You can test these ideas practically. If you or anybody else takes 100 deep and fast breaths, you can pass out (or faint) due to ... lack of oxygen in the brain. Why? This picture shows brain oxygenation for normal breathing and after one minute of hyperventilation

Effects of Overbreathing on Cerebral O2:

Vasoconstrictive effects

Reduction of O2 Availability by 40 Percent

(Red = most O2, dark blue = least O2)

In this image, oxygen availability in the brain is reduced by 40% as a result of about a minute of overbreathing (hyperventilation). Not only is oxygen availability reduced, but glucose critical to brain functioning is also markedly reduced as a result of cerebral vasoconstriction.

Cerebral vasoconstriction is a linear effect. Above-mentioned sick people have, in average, about 20% less oxygen in the brain 24/7. Their oxygenation will be in between these two images.

Learn it here: CO₂ is a vasodilator (dilator of blood vessels). Moreover, dozens of western studies showed that people with various chronic conditions have reduced body oxygenation and reduced oxygenation index (stres-free breath holding time after normal exhalation). For these studies click here.

Not only the brain, all other vital organs get less oxygen in conditions of chronic hyperventilation. Apart from constriction of blood vessels, there is another equally powerful CO₂-effect that reduce tissue oxygenation. Learn here about the Bohr effect.

Fact: Tissue hypoxia (low level of oxygen in our cells) is the key factor for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, bronchitis, chronic fatigue, arthritis, and many other conditions. 

All available Western medical evidence (hundreds of studies, for some of them click here) indicate that all these patients have abnormal breathing patterns causing sub-optimum or low oxygenation of all vital organs.

You can measure your breathing and body oxygenation using a single and simple DIY test: click here.

Watch this video clip (from www.GoogleVideo.com) about the paradox of breathing. Click in the window right to learn about scientific and practical evidence connecting the index of oxygenation (stress-free breath holding time after usual exhalation) and minute ventilation of people in various health states. Video clip "Breathing patterns" (it will open in a new window).

Note that the stress-free breath holding time test is done after usual exhalation and only until the first desire to breathe or first stress or discomfort. Click here to watch the introductory video clip from my Lecture where I explain in detail how the breath holding time test is done and what are the typical numbers for various groups of people. Video clip "Stress-free breath holding time test" (it will open in a new window).

Conclusions: Those people who breathe less have longer breath holding time and more oxygen in tissues. Those people who breathe heavier (or deeper/bigger) have much less oxygen and shorter breath holding time. Why? This video clip provides the answer. Video clip "Physiology of oxygen transport" (it will open in a new window).

Fact: Chronic diseases are always accompanied by sub-optimum or abnormally low oxygenation of vital organs and tissues.

Fact: Restoration of oxygenation by one's breathing retraining means no symptoms and no medication for many common health problems.

Learn about breathing and oxygenation, and their relation to your health, sleep, digestion, energy, and performance INFORMATION PAGES.

This website has 6 main parts:

1. Cancer webpages

2. Education (learn about the practical side of why and how oxygenation and breathing are crucial for your health, performance, sleep, digestion, and life)

3. Learning (learn the Buteyko method by modules; some manuals and articles are not free)

4. Buteyko breathing practice (details about my teaching the Buteyko breathing method)

5. Three books:

"Oxygenate yourself: breathe less" (This e-book is about the importance of breathing and introduction to the Buteyko breathing method; 94 pages. 15 Euro)

"Normal breathing: the key to vital health" (This e-book is for Buteyko practitioners and very serious Buteyko students; 298 pages;  2008 edition. 70 Euro)

"Dr. Buteyko’s lecture in the Moscow State University on 9 December 1969" (This e-book is for anybody who is interested in original Doctor Buteyko's view after his laboratory make their discoveries; 55 pages; English translation; 2008 edition; With Dr. Artour Rakhimov’s comments; 12 Euro)

6. Video-DVD Lecture: "Breathing Patterns and Tissue Oxygenation"; (see parts of this DVD on www.GoogleVideo.com and www.YouTube.com) Dr. Artour Rakhimov speaks about the Buteyko breathing method and other discoveries of the Soviet spaceship doctor. 3 hours 20 minutes. Windows Media Files on a DVD. 40 Euro. You can also buy the right to download and get internet access to electronic Windows Media Video Files of the lecture "Breathing Patterns and Tissue Oxygenation" for 20 Euro.

What other Buteyko practitioners wrote about my book

"Normal breathing: the key to vital health" 3-5 years ago

(The new, 2008 edition of this book has about 100 more pages!)

"… It is not just another book on Buteyko. It really fills in some gaps and addresses some real needs. I purchased one and read the first couple of chapters last night and flicked through the rest. What a fabulous rescource it is. I would highly recommend it to everyone. We will definitely make it part of the required reading for the Eucapnic- Buteyko Practitioner Training Course… "
Rosalba Courtney, Buteyko teacher, Chairperson of the Buteyko Practitioners Association in Australia

"…This is the most comprehensive scientific work available in the west on Buteyko's work…"
Peter Kolb, Buteyko teacher and organizer of the largest web-site devoted to the Buteyko method (http://www.members.westnet.com.au/pkolb/buteyko.htm)

"…I have read through your book a number of times and I have came across nothing which would demand a correction. Personally I feel that your book is very well written and is a great help for all practitioners. I would also believe that the information contained is greater than what has been available on most Buteyko practitioner training courses. I have recieved notes and feedback from most of them and nothing comes close. Furthermore, it is the most informative book available to date on the Buteyko Method which is published in the English language…"
Patrick McKeown, Buteyko practitioner (Ireland), author of several books about the Buteyko method

"... I've just bought your book yesterday and I want to thank you for all the effort you took to write it. It is good stuff and helps me even better understanding the Buteyko Method. Many thanks..."
Dirk van Ginneken, Buteyko practitioner and founder of the Buteyko Institute in the Netherlands (www.buteyko-instituut.nl)

" ...I congratulate you on a really excellent and valuable addition to the fund of available Buteyko knowledge. I think the way you have properly referenced everything gives it real credibility…"
Victor Lunn-Rocliffe, artist and Buteyko student, who contributed to Western Buteyko movement with his numerous drawings used for various Buteyko articles and web-sites

"…This is without doubt one of the most comprehensive and rigorous examinations of Buteyko's work and the science behind it, in English language, available today. The book is an excellent reference for Buteyko practitioners and medically trained people and yet is written in a style accessible to all readers..." Glenn White, New Zealand, Buteyko Breath Correction, BIBH Practitioner

To pay for services, to buy 2 or more copies of my books, or to promote the development of the Buteyko breathing method, click here:

To view the whole site click here:  Map of the whole site

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By Dr. Artour Rakhimov, Buteyko breathing teacher and educator

 

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